Processing of digital images using autofocus settings for image enhancement

ABSTRACT

A method of processing a digital image comprising: using a digital camera, capturing the image utilising an adjustable focusing technique; storing the focusing settings within a memory of the digital camera; utilising the focusing settings as an indicator of the position of structures within the image; processing the image within a processor of the camera utilising the said focus settings to produce a manipulated image having effects specific to said focus settings; and printing out the image using a printer inbuilt to the camera body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/112,750 filed on Jul. 10, 1998, now Issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,727,948.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus and, in particular, discloses a process for utilizing autofocus information in a digital image camera.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Recently, digital cameras have become increasingly popular. These cameras normally operate by means of imaging a desired image utilizing a charge coupled device (CCD) array and storing the imaged scene on an electronic storage medium for later down loading onto a computer system for subsequent manipulation and printing out. Normally, when utilizing a computer system to print out an image, sophisticated software may be available to manipulate the image in accordance with requirements.

Unfortunately such systems require significant post processing of a captured image and normally present the image in an orientation in which is was taken, relying on the post processing process to perform any necessary or required modifications of the captured image.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for enhanced processing of images captured by a digital camera utilising autofocus settings.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of generating a manipulated output image by means of a digital camera, the method comprising the steps of:

capturing a focused image using an automatic focusing technique generating focus settings;

generating a manipulated output image by applying a digital image manipulating process to the focused image, the digital image manipulating process utilizing the focus settings.

Preferably the focus settings include a current position of a zoom motor of the digital camera.

In a preferred embodiment the digital image manipulating process includes a step of locating an object within the focused image utilizing the focus settings.

The method may include the step of printing out the manipulated image by means of a printing mechanism incorporated into the digital camera.

It is preferred that the digital image manipulating process selectively applies techniques to the focused image on the basis of the focus settings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

-   -   FIG. 1 illustrates the method of the preferred embodiment; and     -   FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of the ARTCAM type camera.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment is preferably implemented through suitable programming of a hand held camera device such as that described in the concurrently filed application, Applicant's reference ART01, U.S. Ser. No. 09/113,060 entitled “A Digital Camera with Image Processing Capability” filed concurrently herewith by the present applicant the content of which is hereby specifically incorporated by cross reference and the details of which, and other related applications are set out in the tables below. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram thereof.

The aforementioned patent specification discloses a camera system, hereinafter known as an “Artcam” type camera, wherein sensed images can be directly printed out by an Artcam portable camera unit such as illustrated in FIG. 2. Further, the aforementioned specification discloses means and methods for performing various manipulations on images captured by the camera sensing device 30 leading to the production of various effects in any output image 40. The manipulations are disclosed to be highly flexible in nature and can be implemented through the insertion into the Artcam of cards having encoded thereon various instructions for the manipulation of images, the cards 9 hereinafter being known as Artcards. The Artcam further has significant onboard processing power by an Artcam Central Processor unit (ACP) 32 which is interconnected to a memory device 34 for the storage of important data and images.

In the preferred embodiment, autofocus is achieved by processing of a CCD data stream to ensure maximum contrast. Techniques for determining a focus position based on a CCD data stream are known. For example, reference is made to “The Encyclopedia of Photography” editors Leslie Stroebel and Richard Zakia, published 1993 by Butterworth-Heinemann and “Applied Photographic Optics” by London & Boston, Focal Press, 1988. These techniques primarily rely on measurements of contrast between adjacent pixels over portions of an input image. The image is initally processed by the ACP in order to determine a correct autofocus setting.

This autofocus information is then utilized by the ACP 32 in certain modes, for example, when attempting to locate faces within the image, as a guide to the likely size of any face within the image, thereby simplifying the face location process.

Turning now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated an example of the method utilized to determine likely image characteristics for examination by a face detection algorithm 10.

Various images eg. 2, 3 and 4 are imaged by the camera device 28. As a by product of the operation of the auto-focusing the details of the focusing settings of the autofocus unit 5 are stored by the ACP 32 in the memory device 34. Additionally, a current position of the zoom motor 38 is also utilized as zoom setting 6. Both of these settings are determined by the ACP 32. Subsequently, the ACP 32 applies analysis techniques in heuristic system 8 to the detected values before producing an output 29 having a magnitude corresponding to the likely depth location of objects of interest 21, 31 or 41 within the image 2, 3 or 4 respectively.

Next, the depth value is utilised in a face detection algorithm 10 running on the ACP 32 in addition to the inputted sensed image 11 so as to locate objects within the image. A close output 29 corresponding to a range value indicates a high probability of a portrait image, a medium range indicates a high probability of a group photograph and a further range indicates a higher probability of a landscape image. This probability information can be utilized as an aid for the face detection algorithm and also can be utilised for selecting between various parameters when producing “painting” effects within the image or painting the image with clip arts or the like, with different techniques or clip arts being applied depending on the distance to an object.

It would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the present invention as shown in the specific embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive.

The present invention is further best utilized in the Artcam device, the details of which are set out in the following paragraphs although it is not restricted thereto.

Ink Jet Technologies

The embodiments of the invention use an ink jet printer type device. Of course many different devices could be used. However presently popular ink jet printing technologies are unlikely to be suitable.

The most significant problem with thermal inkjet is power consumption. This is approximately 100 times that required for high speed, and stems from the energy-inefficient means of drop ejection. This involves the rapid boiling of water to produce a vapor bubble which expels the ink. Water has a very high heat capacity, and must be superheated in thermal inkjet applications. This leads to an efficiency of around 0.02%, from electricity input to drop momentum (and increased surface area) out.

The most significant problem with piezoelectric inkjet is size and cost. Piezoelectric crystals have a very small deflection at reasonable drive voltages, and therefore require a large area for each nozzle. Also, each piezoelectric actuator must be connected to its drive circuit on a separate substrate. This is not a significant problem at the current limit of around 300 nozzles per print head, but is a major impediment to the fabrication of pagewidth print heads with 19,200 nozzles.

Ideally, the inkjet technologies used meet the stringent requirements of in-camera digital color printing and other high quality, high speed, low cost printing applications. To meet the requirements of digital photography, new inkjet technologies have been created. The target features include:

-   -   low power (less than 10 Watts)     -   high resolution capability (1,600 dpi or more)     -   photographic quality output     -   low manufacturing cost     -   small size (pagewidth times minimum cross section)     -   high speed (<2 seconds per page).

All of these features can be met or exceeded by the inkjet systems described below with differing levels of difficulty. Fortyfive different inkjet technologies have been developed by the Assignee to give a wide range of choices for high volume manufacture. These technologies form part of separate applications assigned to the present Assignee as set out in the table below.

The inkjet designs shown here are suitable for a wide range of digital printing systems, from battery powered one-time use digital cameras, through to desktop and network printers, and through to commercial printing systems

For ease of manufacture using standard process equipment, the print head is designed to be a monolithic 0.5micron CMOS chip with MEMS post processing. For color photographic applications, the print head is 100 mm long, with a width which depends upon the inkjet type. The smallest print head designed is IJ38, which is 0.35 mm wide, giving a chip area of 35 square mm. The print heads each contain 19,200 nozzles plus data and control circuitry.

Ink is supplied to the back of the print head by injection molded plastic ink channels. The molding requires 50 micron features, which can be created using a lithographically micromachined insert in a standard injection molding tool. Ink flows through holes etched through the wafer to the nozzle chambers fabricated on the front surface of the wafer. The print head is connected to the camera circuitry by tape automated bonding.

CROSS-REFERENCED APPLICATIONS

The following table is a guide to cross-referenced patent applications filed concurrently herewith and discussed hereinafter with the reference being utilized in subsequent tables when referring to a particular case:

Docket No. Reference Title IJ01US 6227652 Radiant Plunger Ink Jet Printer IJ02US 6213588 Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer IJ03US 6213589 Planar Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet IJ04US 6231163 Stacked Electrostatic Ink Jet Printer IJ05US 6247795 Reverse Spring Lever Ink Jet Printer IJ06US 6394581 Paddle Type Ink Jet Printer IJ07US 6244691 Permanent Magnet Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ08US 6257704 Planar Swing Grill Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ09US 6416168 Pump Action Refill Ink Jet Printer IJ10US 6220694 Pulsed Magnetic Field Ink Jet Printer IJ11US 6257705 Two Plate Reverse Firing Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ12US 6247794 Linear Stepper Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ13US 6234610 Gear Driven Shutter Ink Jet Printer IJ14US 6247793 Tapered Magnetic Pole Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ15US 6264306 Linear Spring Electromagnetic Grill Ink Jet Printer IJ16US 6241342 Lorenz Diaphragm Electromagnetic Ink Jet Printer IJ17US 6247792 PTFE Surface Shooting Shuttered Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer IJ18US 6264307 Buckle Grip Oscillating Pressure Ink Jet Printer IJ19US 6254220 Shutter Based Ink Jet Printer IJ20US 6234611 Curling Calyx Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer IJ21US 6302528 Thermal Actuated Ink Jet Printer IJ22US 6283582 Iris Motion Ink Jet Printer IJ23US 6239821 Direct Firing Thermal Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ24US 6338547 Conductive PTFE Ben Activator Vented Ink Jet Printer IJ25US 6247796 Magnetostrictive Ink Jet Printer IJ26US 6557977 Shape Memory Alloy Ink Jet Printer IJ27US 6390603 Buckle Plate Ink Jet Printer IJ28US 6362843 Thermal Elastic Rotary Impeller Ink Jet Printer IJ29US 6293653 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Ink Jet Printer IJ30US 6312107 Thermoelastic Bend Actuator Using PTFE and Corrugated Copper Ink Jet Printer IJ31US 6227653 Bend Actuator Direct Ink Supply Ink Jet Printer IJ32US 6234609 A High Young's Modulus Thermoelastic Ink Jet Printer IJ33US 6238040 Thermally actuated slotted chamber wall ink jet printer IJ34US 6188415 Ink Jet Printer having a thermal actuator comprising an external coiled spring IJ35US 6227654 Trough Container Ink Jet Printer IJ36US 6209989 Dual Chamber Single Vertical Actuator Ink Jet IJ37US 6247791 Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Fulcrum Actuator Ink Jet IJ38US 6336710 Dual Nozzle Single Horizontal Actuator Ink Jet IJ39US 6217153 A single bend actuator cupped paddle ink jet printing device IJ40US 6416167 A thermally actuated ink jet printer having a series of thermal actuator units IJ41US 6243113 A thermally actuated ink jet printer including a tapered heater element IJ42US 6283581 Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet IJ43US 6247790 Inverted Radial Back-Curling Thermoelastic Ink Jet IJ44US 6260953 Surface bend actuator vented ink supply ink jet printer IJ45US 6267469 Coil Acutuated Magnetic Plate Ink Jet Printer Tables of Drop-on-Demand Inkjets

Eleven important characteristics of the fundamental operation of individual inkjet nozzles have been identified. These characteristics are largely orthogonal, and so can be elucidated as an eleven dimensional matrix. Most of the eleven axes of this matrix include entries developed by the present assignee.

The following tables form the axes of an eleven dimensional table of inkjet types.

-   -   Actuator mechanism (18 types)     -   Basic operation mode (7 types)     -   Auxiliary mechanism (8 types)     -   Actuator amplification or modification method (17 types)     -   Actuator motion (19 types)     -   Nozzle refill method (4 types)     -   Method of restricting back-flow through inlet (10 types)     -   Nozzle clearing method (9 types)     -   Nozzle plate construction (9 types)     -   Drop ejection direction (5 types)     -   Ink type (7 types)

The complete eleven dimensional table represented by these axes contains 36.9 billion possible configurations of inkjet nozzle. While not all of the possible combinations result in a viable inkjet technology, many million configurations are viable. It is clearly impractical to elucidate all of the possible configurations. Instead, certain inkjet types have been investigated in detail. These are designated IJ01 to IJ45 above.

Other inkjet configurations can readily be derived from these fortyfive examples by substituting alternative configurations along one or more of the 11 axes. Most of the IJ01 to IJ45 examples can be made into inkjet print heads with characteristics superior to any currently available inkjet technology.

Where there are prior art examples known to the inventor, one or more of these examples are listed in the examples column of the tables below. The IJ01 to IJ45 series are also listed in the examples column. In some cases, a print technology may be listed more than once in a table, where it shares characteristics with more than one entry.

Suitable applications include: Home printers, Office network printers, Short run digital printers, Commercial print systems, Fabric printers, Pocket printers, Internet WWW printers, Video printers, Medical imaging, Wide format printers, Notebook PC printers, Fax machines, Industrial printing systems, Photocopiers, Photographic minilabs etc.

The information associated with the aforementioned 11 dimensional matrix are set out in the following tables.

Description Advantages Disadvantages Examples ACTUATOR MECHANISM (APPLIED ONLY TO SELECTED INK DROPS) Actuator Mechanism Thermal bubble An electrothermal heater heats the ink to Large force generated High power Canon Bubblejet 1979 Endo above boiling point, transferring Simple construction Ink carrier limited to water et al GB patent significant heat to the aqueous ink. A No moving parts Low efficiency 2,007,162 bubble nucleates and quickly forms, Fast operation High temperatures required Xerox heater-in-pit expelling the ink. Small chip area required for actuator High mechanical stress 1990 Hawkins et al USP The efficiency of the process is low, with Unusual materials required 4,899,181 typically less than 0.05% of the electrical Large drive transistors Hewlett-Packard TIJ energy being transformed into kinetic energy of the Cavitation causes actuator failure 1982 Vaught et al USP the drop. Kogation reduces bubble formation 4,490,728 Large print heads are difficult to fabricate Piezoelectric A piezoelectric crystal such as lead Low power consumption Very large area required for actuator Kyser et al USP lanthanum zirconate (PZT) is electrically Many ink types can be used Difficult to integrate with electronics 3,946,398 activated, and either expands, shears, or Fast operation High voltage drive transistors required Zoltan USP 3,683,212 bends to apply pressure to the ink, High efficiency Full pagewidth print heads impractical due 1973 Stemme USP ejecting drops. to actuator size 3,747,120 Requires electrical poling in high field strengths Epson Stylus during manufacture Tektronix IJ04 Electro-strictive An electric field is used to activate Low power consumption Low maximum strain (approx. 0.01%) Seiko Epson, Usui et all JP electrostriction in relaxor materials such Many ink types can be used Large area required for actuator due to low 253401/96 as lead lanthanum zirconate titanate Low thermal expansion strain IJ04 (PLZT) or lead magnesium niobate Electric field strength required (approx. Response speed is marginal (~10 μs) (PMN). 3.5 V/μm) can be High voltage drive transistors required generated without difficulty Full pagewidth print heads impractical due Does not require electrical to actuator size poling Ferroelectric An electric field is used to induce a phase Low power consumption Difficult to integrate with electronics IJ04 transition between the antiferroelectric Many ink types can be used Unusual materials such as PLZSnT are (AFE) and ferroelectric (FE) phase. Fast operation (<1 μs) required Perovskite materials such as tin modified Relatively high longitudinal Actuators require a large area lead lanthanum zirconate titanate strain (PLZSnT) exhibit large strains of up to High efficiency 1% associated with the AFE to FE phase Electric field strength of transition. around 3 V/μm can be readily provided Electrostatic Conductive plates are separated by a compressible Low power consumption Difficult to operate electrostatic devices in IJ02, IJ04 plates or fluid dielectric (usually Many ink types can be used an aqueous environment air). Upon application of a voltage, the Fast operation The electrostatic actuator will normally plates attract each other and displace ink, need to be separated from the ink causing drop ejection. The conductive Very large area required to achieve high plates may be in a comb or honeycomb forces structure, or stacked to increase the surface area and High voltage drive transistors may be and therefore the force. required Full pagewidth print heads are not competitive due to actuator size Electrostatic A strong electric field is applied to the Low current consumption High voltage required 1989 Saito et al, USP pull on ink ink, whereupon electrostatic attraction Low temperature May be damaged by sparks due to air 4,799,068 accelerates the ink towards the print breakdown 1989 Miura et al, USP medium. Required field strength increases as the drop size 4,810,954 decreases Tone-jet High voltage drive transistors required Electrostatic field attracts dust Permanent An electromagnet directly attracts a Low power consumption Complex fabrication IJ07, IJ10 magnet electromagnetic permanent magnet, displacing ink and Many ink types can be used Permanent magnetic material such as Neodymium causing drop ejection. Rare earth Fast operation Iron Boron (NdFeB) required. magnets with a field strength around l High efficiency High local currents required Tesla can be used. Examples are: Easy extension from single Copper metalization should be used for Samarium Cobalt (SaCo) and magnetic nozzles to pagewidth print long electromigration lifetime and low materials in the neodymium iron boron heads resistivity family (NdFeB, NdDyFeBNb, Pigmented inks are usually infeasible NdDyFeB, etc) Operating temperature limited to the Curie temperature (around 540 K) Soft magnetic A solenoid induced a magnetic field in a Low power consumption Complex fabrication IJ01, IJ05, IJ08, IJ10 core electromagnetic soft magnetic core or yoke fabricated Many ink types can be used Materials not usually present in a CMOS IJ12, IJ14, IJ15, IJ17 from a ferrous material such as Fast operation fab such as NiFe, CoNiFe, or CoFe are electroplated iron alloys such as CoNiFe High efficiency required [1], CoFe, or NiFe alloys. Typically, the Easy extension from single High local currents required soft magnetic material is in two parts, nozzles to pagewidth print Copper metalization should be used for which are normally held apart by a heads long electromigration lifetime and low spring. When the solenoid is actuated, the resistivity two parts attract, displacing the ink. Electroplating is required High saturation flux density is required (2.0-2.1 T is achievable with CoNiFe [1]) Magnetic The Lorenz force acting on a current Low power consumption Force acts as a twisting motion IJ06, IJ11, IJ13, IJ16 Lorenz force carrying wire in a magnetic field is Many ink types can be used Typically, only a quarter of the solenoid utilized. Fast operation length provides force in a useful direction This allows the magnetic field to be High efficiency High local currents required supplied externally to the print head, for Easy extension from single Copper metalization should be used for example with rare earth permanent nozzles to pagewidth print long electromigration lifetime and low magnets. heads resistivity Only the current carrying wire need be Pigmented inks are usually infeasible fabricated on the print-head, simplifying materials requirements. Magnetostriction The actuator uses the giant Many ink types can be used Force acts as a twisting motion Fischenbeck, USP magnetostrictive effect of materials such Fast operation Unusual materials such as Terfenol-D are 4,032,929 as Terfenol-D (an alloy of terbium, Easy extension from single required IJ25 dysprosium and iron developed at the nozzles to pagewidth print High local currents required Naval Ordnance Laboratory, hence Ter- heads Copper metalization should be used for Fe-NOL). For best efficiency, the High force is available long electromigration lifetime and low actuator should be pre-stressed to approx. resistivity 8 MPa. Pre-stressing may be required Surface tension Ink under positive pressure is held in a Low power consumption Requires supplementary force to effect drop Silverbrook, EP 0771 reduction nozzle by surface tension. The surface Simple construction separation 658 A2 and related patent tension of the ink is reduced below the No unusual materials required Requires special ink surfactants applications bubble threshold, causing the ink to in fabrication Speed may be limited by surfactant egress from the nozzle. High efficiency properties Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Viscosity The ink viscosity is locally reduced to Simple construction Requires supplementary force to effect drop Silverbrook, EP 0771 reduction select which drops are to be ejected. A No unusual materials required separation 658 A2 and related viscosity reduction can be achieved in fabrication Requires special ink viscosity properties patent applications electrothermally with most inks, but Easy extension from single High speed is difficult to achieve special inks can be engineered for a nozzles to pagewidth print Requires oscillating ink pressure 100:1 viscosity reduction. heads A high temperature difference (typically 80 degrees) is required Acoustic An acoustic wave is generated and Can operate without a nozzle Complex drive circuitry 1993 Hadimioglu et al, EUP focussed upon the drop ejection region. plate Complex fabrication 550,192 Low efficiency 1993 Elrod et al, EUP Poor control of drop position 572,220 Poor control of drop volume Thermoelastic An actuator which relies upon Low power consumption Efficient aqueous operation requires a IJ03, IJ09, IJ17, IJ18 bend actuator differential thermal expansion upon Joule Many ink types can be used thermal insulator on the hot side IJ19, IJ20, IJ21, IJ22 heating is used. Simple planar fabrication Corrosion prevention can be difficult IJ23, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 Small chip area required for Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 each actuator pigment particles may jam the bend IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 Fast operation actuator IJ37, IJ38 ,IJ39, IJ40 High efficiency IJ41 CMOS compatible voltages and currents Standard MEMS processes can be used Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads High CTE A material with a very high coefficient of High force can be generated Requires special material (e.g. PTFE) IJ09, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20 thermoelastic thermal expansion (CTE) such as PTFE is a candidate for low Requires a PTFE deposition process, which IJ21, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 actuator polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used. dielectric constant insulation in is not yet standard in ULSI fabs IJ27, IJ28, IJ29, IJ30 As high CTE materials are usually non- ULSI PTFE deposition cannot be followed with IJ31, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 conductive, a heater fabricated from a Very low power consumption high temperature (above 350° C.) processing conductive material is incorporated. A 50 μm Many ink types can be used Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as long PTFE bend actuator with Simple planar fabrication pigment particles may jam the bend polysilicon heater and 15 mW power Small chip area required for actuator input can provide 180 μN force and 10 μm each actuator deflection. Actuator motions include: Fast operation 1) Bend High efficiency 2) Push CMOS compatible voltages 3) Buckle and currents 4) Rotate Easy extension from single nozzles to pagewidth print heads Conductive A polymer with a high coefficient of High force can be generated Requires special materials development IJ24 polymer thermal expansion (such as PTFE) is Very low power consumption (High CTE conductive polymer) thermoelastic doped with conducting substances to Many ink types can be used Requires a PTFE deposition process, which actuator increase its conductivity to about 3 orders Simple planar fabrication is not yet standard in ULSI fabs of magnitude below that of copper. The Small chip area required for PTFE deposition cannot be followed with conducting polymer expands when each actuator high temperature (above 350° C.) processing resistively heated. Fast operation Evaporation and CVD deposition Examples of conducting dopants include: High efficiency techniques cannot be used 1) Carbon nanotubes CMOS compatible voltages Pigmented inks may be infeasible, as 2) Metal fibers and currents pigment particles may jam the bend 3) Conductive polymers such as doped Easy extension from single actuator polythiophene nozzles to pagewidth print 4) Carbon granules heads Shape memory A shape memory alloy such as TiNi (also High force is available Fatigue limits maximum number of cycles IJ26 alloy known as Nitinol —Nickel Titanium alloy (stresses of hundreds of MPa) Low strain (1%) is required to extend developed at the Naval Ordnance Large strain is available (more fatigue resistance Laboratory) is thermally switched than 3%) Cycle rate limited by heat removal between its weak martensitic state and its High corrosion resistance Requires unusual materials (TiNi) high stiffness austenic state. The shape of Simple construction The latent heat of transformation must be the actuator in its martensitic state is Easy extension from single provided deformed relative to the austenic shape. nozzles to pagewidth print High current operation The shape change causes ejection of a heads Requires pre-stressing to distort the drop. Low voltage operation martensitic state Linear Magnetic Linear magnetic actuators include the Linear Magnetic actuators can Requires unusual semiconductor materials IJ12 Actuator Linear Induction Actuator (LIA), Linear be constructed with high thrust, such as soft magnetic alloys (e.g. CoNiFe Permanent Magnet Synchronous long travel, and high efficiency [1]) Actuator (LPMSA), Linear Reluctance using planar semiconductor Some varieties also require permanent Synchronous Actuator (LRSA), Linear fabrication techniques magnetic materials such as Neodymium Switched Reluctance Actuator (LSRA), Long actuator travel is iron boron (NdFeB) and the Linear Stepper Actuator (LSA). available Requires complex multi-phase drive Medium force is available circuitry Low voltage operation High current operation BASIC OPERATION MODE Operational mode Actuator directly This is the simplest mode of operation: Simple operation Drop repetition rate is usually limited to Thermal inkjet pushes ink the actuator directly supplies sufficient No external fields required less than 10 KHz. However, this is not Piezoelectric inkjet kinetic energy to expel the drop. The Satellite drops can be avoided fundamental to the method, but is related to IJ01, IJ02, IJ03, IJ04 drop must have a sufficient velocity to overcome if drop velocity is less than 4 m/s the refill method normally used IJ05, IJ06, IJ07, IJ09 the surface tension. Can be efficient, depending All of the drop kinetic energy must be IJ11, IJ12, IJ14, IJ16 upon the actuator used provided by the actuator IJ20, IJ22, IJ23, IJ24 Satellite drops usually form if drop velocity IJ25, IJ26, IJ27, IJ28 is greater than 4.5 m/s IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ33, IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 IJ37, IJ38, IJ39, IJ40 IJ41, IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 Proximity The drops to be printed are selected by some manner Very simple print head Requires close proximity between the print Silverbrook, EP 0771 (e.g. thermally induced fabrication can be used head and the print media or transfer roller 658 A2 and related surface tension reduction of pressurized The drop selection means does May require two print heads printing patent applications ink). Selected drops are separated from not need to provide the energy alternate rows of the image the ink in the nozzle by contact with the required to separate the drop Monolithic color print heads are difficult print medium or a transfer roller. from the nozzle Electrostatic The drops to be printed are selected by Very simple print head Requires very high electrostatic field Silverbrook, EP 0771 pull on Ink some manner (e.g. thermally induced fabrication can be used Electrostatic field for small nozzle sizes is 658 A2 and related surface tension reduction of pressurized The drop selection means does above air breakdown patent applications ink). Selected drops are separated from not need to provide the energy Electrostatic field may attract dust Tone-Jet the ink in the nozzle by a strong electric required to separate the drop field. from the nozzle Magnetic pull on The drops to be printed are selected by Very simple print head Requires magnetic ink Silverbrook, EP 0771 ink some manner (e.g. thermally induced fabrication can be used Ink colors other than black are difficult 658 A2 and related surface tension reduction of pressurized The drop selection means does Requires very high magnetic fields patent applications ink). Selected drops are separated from not need to provide the energy the ink in the nozzle by a strong magnetic required to separate the drop field acting on the magnetic ink. from the nozzle Shutter The actuator moves a shutter to block ink High speed (>50 KHz) Moving parts are required IJ13, IJ17, IJ21 flow to the nozzle. The ink pressure is operation can be achieved due Requires ink pressure modulator pulsed at a multiple of the drop ejection to reduced refill time Friction and wear must be considered frequency. Drop timing can be very Stiction is possible accurate The actuator energy can be very low Shuttered grill The actuator moves a shutter to block ink Actuators with small travel can Moving parts are required IJ08, IJ15, IJ18, IJ19 flow through a grill to the nozzle. The be used Requires ink pressure modulator shutter movement need only be equal to Actuators with small force can Friction and wear must be considered the width of the grill holes. be used Stiction is possible High speed (>50 KHz) operation can be achieved Pulsed magnetic A pulsed magnetic field attracts an ‘ink Extremely low energy Requires an external pulsed magnetic field IJ10 pull on Ink pusher’ at the drop ejection frequency. operation is possible Requires special materials for both the pusher An actuator controls a catch, which No heat dissipation problems actuator and the ink pusher prevents the ink pusher from moving Complex construction when a drop is not to be ejected. AUXILIARY MECHANISM (APPLIED TO ALL NOZZLES) Auxiliary Mechanism None The actuator directly fires the ink drop, and there is Simplicity of construction Drop ejection energy must be supplied by Most inkjets, including no external field or other mechanism required. Simplicity of operation individual nozzle actuator piezoelectric and Small physical size thermal bubble. IJ01-IJ07, IJ09, IJ11 IJ12, IJ14, IJ20, IJ22 IJ23-IJ45 Oscillating Ink The ink pressure oscillates, providing Oscillating ink pressure can Requires external ink pressure oscillator Silverbrook, EP 0771 pressure much of the drop ejection energy. The provide a refill pulse, allowing Ink pressure phase and amplitude must be 658 A2 and related (Including actuator selects which drops are to be higher operating speed carefully controlled patent applications acoustic fired by selectively blocking or enabling The actuators may operate with Acoustic reflections in the ink chamber IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 stimulation) nozzles. The ink pressure oscillation may much lower energy must be designed for IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 be achieved by vibrating the print head, Acoustic lenses can be used to or preferably by an actuator in the ink focus the sound on the nozzles supply. Media proximity The print head is placed in close Low power Precision assembly required Silverbrook, EP 0771 proximity to the print medium. Selected High accuracy Paper fibers may cause problems 658 A2 and related drops protrude from the print head Simple print head construction Cannot print on rough substrates patent applications further than unselected drops, and contact the print medium. The drop soaks into the medium fast enough to cause drop separation. Transfer roller Drops are printed to a transfer roller High accuracy Bulky Silverbrook, EP 0771 instead of straight to the print medium. A Wide range of print substrates Expensive 658 A2 and related transfer roller can also be used for can be used Complex construction patent applications proximity drop separation. Ink can be dried on the transfer Tektronix hot melt roller piezoelectric inkjet Any of the IJ series Electrostatic An electric field is used to accelerate Low power Field strength required for separation of Silverbrook, EP 0771 selected drops towards the print medium. Simple print head construction small drops is near or above air breakdown 658 A2 and related patent applications Tone-Jet Direct magnetic A magnetic field is used to accelerate Low power Requires magnetic ink Silverbrook, EP 0771 field selected drops of magnetic ink towards Simple print head construction Requires strong magnetic field 658 A2 and related the print medium. patent applications Cross magnetic The print head is placed in a constant Does not require magnetic Requires external magnet IJ06, IJ16 field magnetic field. The Lorenz force in a materials to be integrated in the Current densities may be high, resulting in current carrying wire is used to move the print head manufacturing electromigration problems actuator. process Pulsed magnetic A pulsed magnetic field is used to Very low power operation is Complex print head construction IJ10 field cyclically attract a paddle, which pushes possible Magnetic materials required in print head on the ink. A small actuator moves a Small print head size catch, which selectively prevents the paddle from moving. ACTUATOR AMPLIFICATION OR MODIFICATION METHOD Actuator amplification None No actuator mechanical amplification is Operational simplicity Many actuator mechanisms have Thermal Bubble Inkjet used. The actuator directly drives the insufficient travel, or insufficient force, to IJ01, IJ02, IJ06, IJ07 drop ejection process. efficiently drive the drop ejection process IJ16, IJ25, IJ26 Differential An actuator material expands more on Provides greater travel in a High stresses are involved Piezoelectric expansion bend one side than on the other. The expansion reduced print head area Care must be taken that the materials do not IJ03, IJ09, IJ17-IJ24 actuator may be thermal, piezoelectric, The bend actuator converts a delaminate IJ27, IJ29-IJ39, IJ42, magnetostrictive, or other mechanism. high force low travel actuator Residual bend resulting from high IJ43, IJ44 mechanism to high travel, temperature or high stress during formation lower force mechanism. Transient bend A trilayer bend actuator where the two Very good temperature High stresses are involved IJ40, IJ41 actuator outside layers are identical. This cancels stability Care must be taken that the materials do not bend due to ambient temperature and High speed, as a new drop can delaminate residual stress. The actuator only be fired before heat dissipates responds to transient heating of one side Cancels residual stress of or the other. formation Actuator stack A series of thin actuators are stacked. This can be Increased travel Increased fabrication complexity Some piezoelectric ink appropriate where actuators Reduced drive voltage Increased possibility of short circuits due to jets require high electric field strength, such pinholes IJ04 as electrostatic and piezoelectric actuators. Multiple Multiple smaller actuators are used simultaneously Increases the force available Actuator forces may not add linearly, IJ12, IJ13, IJ18, IJ20 actuators to move the ink. Each from an actuator reducing efficiency IJ22, IJ28, IJ42, IJ43 actuator need provide only a portion of Multiple actuators can be the force required. positioned to control ink flow accurately Linear Spring A linear spring is used to transform a Matches low travel actuator Requires print head area for the spring IJ15 motion with small travel and high force with higher travel requirements into a longer travel, lower force motion. Non-contact method of motion transformation Reverse spring The actuator loads a spring. When the Better coupling to the ink Fabrication complexity IJ05, IJ11 actuator is turned off, the spring releases. High stress in the spring This can reverse the force/distance curve of the actuator to make it compatible with the force/time requirements of the drop ejection. Colled actuator A bend actuator is coiled to provide Increases travel Generally restricted to planar IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35 greater travel in a reduced chip area. Reduces chip area implementations due to extreme fabrication Planar implementations are difficulty in other orientations. relatively easy to fabricate. Flexure bend A bend actuator has a small region near Simple means of increasing Care must be taken not to exceed the elastic IJ10, IJ19, IJ33 actuator the fixture point, which flexes much travel of a bend actuator limit in the flexure area more readily than the remainder of the Stress distribution is very uneven actuator. The actuator flexing is Difficult to accurately model with finite effectively converted from an even element analysis coiling to an angular bend, resulting in greater travel of the actuator tip. Gears Gears can be used to increase travel at Low force, low travel actuators Moving parts are required IJ13 the expense of duration. Circular gears, can be used Several actuator cycles are required rack and pinion, ratchets, and other Can be fabricated using More complex drive electronics gearing methods can be used. standard surface MEMS Complex construction processes Friction, friction, and wear are possible Catch The actuator controls a small catch. The Very low actuator energy Complex construction IJ10 catch either enables or disables Very small actuator size Requires external force movement of an ink pusher that is Unsuitable for pigmented inks controlled in a bulk manner. Buckle plate A buckle plate can be used to change a Very fast movement Must stay within elastic limits of the S. Hirata et al, “An Ink- slow actuator into a fast motion. It can achievable materials for long device life jet Head ... ”, Proc. also convert a high force, low travel High stresses involved IEEE MEMS, Feb. actuator into a high travel, medium force Generally high power requirement 1996, pp 418-423. motion. IJ18, IJ27 Tapered A tapered magnetic pole can increase Linearizes the magnetic Complex construction IJ14 magnetic pole travel at the expense of force. force/distance curve Lever A lever and fulcrum is used to transform Matches low travel actuator High stress around the fulcrum IJ32, IJ36, IJ37 a motion with small travel and high force with higher travel requirements into a motion with longer travel and Fulcrum area has no linear lower force. The lever can also reverse movement, and can be used for the direction of travel, a fluid seal Rotary Impeller The actuator is connected to a rotary High mechanical advantage Complex construction IJ28 impeller. A small angular deflection of The ratio of force to travel of Unsuitable for pigmented inks the actuator results in a rotation of the the actuator can be matched to impeller vanes, which push the ink the nozzle requirements by against stationary vanes and out of the varying the number of impeller nozzle. vanes Acoustic lens A refractive or diffractive (e.g. zone No moving parts Large area required 1993 Hadimioglu et al, plate) acoustic lens is used to concentrate Only relevant for acoustic ink jets EUP 550,192 sound waves. 1993 Elrod et al, EUP 572,220 Sharp A sharp point is used to concentrate an Simple construction Difficult to fabricate using standard VLSI Tone-jet conductive electrostatic field. processes for a surface ejecting ink-jet point Only relevant for electrostatic ink jets ACTUATOR MOTION Actuator motion Volume The volume of the actuator changes, Simple construction in the case High energy is typically required to achieve Hewlett-Packard expansion pushing the ink in all directions. of thermal ink jet volume expansion. This leads to thermal Thermal Inkjet stress, cavitation, and kogation in thermal Canon Bubblejet ink jet implementations Linear, normal The actuator moves in a direction normal Efficient coupling to ink drops High fabrication complexity may be IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ07 to chip surface to the print head surface. The nozzle is ejected normal to the surface required to achieve perpendicular motion IJ11, IJ14 typically in the line of movement. Linear, parallel The actuator moves parallel to the print Suitable for planar fabrication Fabrication complexity IJ12, IJ13, IJ15, IJ33, to chip surface head surface. Drop ejection may still be Friction IJ34, IJ35, IJ36 normal to the surface. Stiction Membrane push An actuator with a high force but small The effective area of the Fabrication complexity 1982 Howkins USP area is used to push a stiff membrane that actuator becomes the Actuator size 4,459,601 is in contact with the ink. membrane area Difficulty of integration in a VLSI process Rotary The actuator causes the rotation of some Rotary levers may be used to Device complexity IJ05, IJ08, IJ13, IJ28 element, such a grill or impeller increase travel May have friction at a pivot point Small chip area requirements Bend The actuator bends when energized. This A very small change in Requires the actuator to be made from at 1970 Kyser et al USP may be due to expansion, piezoelectric expansion, a large motion. thermal difference across the actuator 1973 Stemme USP magnetostriction, or other form of 3,747,120 relative dimensional change. IJ03, IJ09, IJ10, IJ19 IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ29 IJ30, IJ31, IJ33, IJ34 IJ35 Swivel The actuator swivels around a central Allows operation where the net Inefficient coupling to the ink motion IJ06 pivot. This motion is suitable where there linear force on the paddle is are opposite forces applied to opposite zero sides of the paddle, e.g. Lorenz force. Small chip area requirements Straighten The actuator is normally bent, and Can be used with shape Requires careful balance of stresses to IJ26, IJ32 straightens when energized. memory alloys where the ensure that the quiescent bend is accurate austenic phase is planar Double bend The actuator bends in one direction when One actuator can be used to Difficult to make the drops ejected by both IJ36, IJ37, IJ38 one element is energized, and bends the power two nozzles. bend directions identical. other way when another element is Reduced chip size. A small efficiency loss compared to energized. Not sensitive to ambient equivalent single bend actuators. temperature Shear Energizing the actuator causes a shear Can increase the effective Not readily applicable to other actuator 1985 Fishbeck USP motion in the actuator material. travel of piezoelectric actuators mechanisms 4,584,590 Radial The actuator squeezes an ink reservoir, Relatively easy to fabricate High force required 1970 Zoltan USP constriction forcing ink from a constricted nozzle. single nozzles from glass Inefficient 3,683,212 tubing as macroscopic Difficult to integrate with VLSI processes structures Coll/uncoil A coiled actuator uncoils or coils more Easy to fabricate as a planar Difficult to fabricate for non-planar devices IJ17, IJ21, IJ34, IJ35 tightly. The motion of the free end of the VLSI process Poor out-of-plane stiffness actuator ejects the ink. Small area required, therefore low cost Bow The actuator bows (or buckles) in the Can increase the speed of Maximum travel is constrained IJ16, IJ18, IJ27 middle when energized. travel High force required Mechanically rigid Push-Pull Two actuators control a shutter. One The structure is pinned at both Not readily suitable for inkjets which IJ18 actuator pulls the shutter, and the other ends, so has a high out-of- directly push the ink pushes it. plane rigidity Curl inwards A set of actuators curl inwards to reduce Good fluid flow to the region Design complexity IJ20, IJ42 the volume of ink that they enclose. behind the actuator increases efficiency Curl outwards A set of actuators curl outwards, Relatively simple construction Relatively large chip area IJ43 pressurizing ink in a chamber surrounding the actuators, and expelling ink from a nozzle in the chamber. Iris Multiple vanes enclose a volume of ink. High efficiency High fabrication complexity IJ22 These simultaneously rotate, reducing the Small chip area Not suitable for pigmented inks volume between the vanes. Acoustic The actuator vibrates at a high frequency. The actuator can be physically Large area required for efficient operation 1993 Hadimioglu et al, vibration distant from the ink at useful frequencies EUP 550,192 Acoustic coupling and crosstalk 1993 Elrod et al, EUP Complex drive circuitry 572,220 Poor control of drop volume and position None In various ink jet designs the actuator No moving parts Various other tradeoffs are required to Silverbrook, EP 0771 does not move. eliminate moving parts 658 A2 and related patent applications Tone-jet NOZZLE REFILL METHOD Nozzle refill method Surface tension After the actuator is energized, it Fabrication simplicity Low speed Thermal inkjet typically returns rapidly to its normal Operational simplicity Surface tension force relatively small Piezoelectric inkjet position. This rapid return sucks in air compared to actuator force IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14 through the nozzle opening. The ink Long refill time usually dominates the total IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 surface tension at the nozzle then exerts a repetition rate small force restoring the meniscus to a minimum area. Shuttered Ink to the nozzle chamber is provided at High speed Requires common ink pressure oscillator IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 oscillating ink a pressure that oscillates at twice the drop Low actuator energy, as the May not be suitable for pigmented inks IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 pressure ejection frequency. When a drop is to be actuator need only open or ejected, the shutter is opened for 3 half close the shutter, instead of cycles: drop ejection, actuator return, and refill. ejecting the ink drop Refill actuator After the main actuator has ejected a High speed, as the nozzle is Requires two independent actuators per IJ09 drop a second (refill) actuator is actively refilled nozzle energized. The refill actuator pushes ink into the nozzle chamber. The refill actuator returns slowly, to prevent its return from emptying the chamber again. Positive ink The ink is held a slight positive pressure. High refill rate, therefore a Surface spill must be prevented Silverbrook, EP 0771 pressure After the ink drop is ejected, the nozzle high drop repetition rate is Highly hydrophobic print head surfaces are 658 A2 and related chamber fills quickly as surface tension possible required patent applications and ink pressure both operate to refill the Alternative for: nozzle. IJ01-IJ07, IJ10-IJ14 IJ16, IJ20, IJ22-IJ45 METHOD OF RESTRICTING BACK-FLOW THROUGH INLET Inlet back-flow restriction method Long inlet The ink inlet channel to the nozzle Design simplicity Restricts refill rate Thermal inkjet channel chamber is made long and relatively Operational simplicity May result in a relatively large chip area Piezoelectric inkjet narrow, relying on viscous drag to reduce Reduces crosstalk Only partially effective IJ42, IJ43 inlet back-flow. Positive ink The ink is under a positive pressure, so Drop selection and separation Requires a method (such as a nozzle rim or Silverbrook, EP 0771 pressure that in the quiescent state some of the ink forces can be reduced effective hydrophobizing, or both) to 658 A2 and related drop already protrudes from the nozzle. Fast refill time prevent flooding of the ejection surface of patent applications This reduces the pressure in the nozzle the print head. Possible operation of chamber which is required to eject a the following: certain volume of ink. The reduction in IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12 chamber pressure results in a reduction in IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22, ink pushed out through the inlet. IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ41 IJ44 Baffle One or more baffles are placed in the The refill rate is not as Design complexity HP Thermal Ink Jet inlet ink flow. When the actuator is restricted as the long inlet May increase fabrication complexity (e.g. Tektronix piezoelectric energized, the rapid ink movement method. Tektronix hot melt Piezoelectric print ink jet creates eddies which restrict the flow Reduces crosstalk heads). through the inlet. The slower refill process is unrestricted, and does not result in eddies. Flexible flap In this method recently disclosed by Significantly reduces back- Not applicable to most inkjet configurations Canon restricts inlet Canon, the expanding actuator (bubble) flow for edge-shooter thermal Increased fabrication complexity pushes on a flexible flap that restricts the ink jet devices Inelastic deformation of polymer flap inlet. results in creep over extended use Inlet filter A filter is located between the ink inlet Additional advantage of ink Restricts refill rate IJ04, IJ12, IJ24, IJ27 and the nozzle chamber. The filter has a filtration May result in complex construction IJ29, IJ30 multitude of small holes or slots, Ink filter may be fabricated restricting ink flow. The filter also with no additional process removes particles which may block the steps nozzle. Small inlet The ink inlet channel to the nozzle Design simplicity Restricts refill rate IJ02, IJ37, IJ44 compared to chamber has a substantially smaller cross May result in a relatively large chip area nozzle section than that of the nozzle, resulting Only partially effective in easier ink egress out of the nozzle than out of the inlet. Inlet shutter A secondary actuator controls the Increases speed of the ink-jet Requires separate refill actuator and drive IJ09 position of a shutter, closing off the ink print head operation circuit inlet when the main actuator is energized. The inlet is The method avoids the problem of inlet Back-flow problem is Requires careful design to minimize the IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06 located behind back-flow by arranging the ink-pushing eliminated negative pressure behind the paddle IJ07, IJ10, IJ11, IJ14 the ink-pushing surface of the actuator between the inlet IJ16, IJ22, IJ23, IJ25 surface and the nozzle. IJ28, IJ31, IJ32, IJ33 IJ34, IJ35, IJ36, IJ39 IJ40, IJ41 Part of the The actuator and a wall of the ink Significant reductions in back- Small increase in fabrication complexity IJ07, IJ20, IJ26, IJ38 actuator moves chamber are arranged so that the motion flow can be achieved to shut off the of the actuator closes off the inlet. Compact designs possible inlet Nozzle actuator In some configurations of ink jet, there is Ink back-flow problem is None related to ink back-flow on actuation Silverbrook, EP 0771 does not result no expansion or movement of an actuator eliminated 658 A2 and related in ink back-flow which may cause ink back-flow through patent applications the inlet. Valve-jet Tone-jet IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 NOZZLE CLEARING METHOD Nozzle Clearing method Normal nozzle All of the nozzles are fired periodically, No added complexity on the May not be sufficient to displace dried ink Most ink jet systems firing before the ink has a chance to dry. When print head IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ12 not in use the nozzles are sealed (capped) IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22 against air. IJ23-IJ34, IJ36-IJ45 The nozzle firing is usually performed during a special clearing cycle, after first moving the print head to a cleaning station. Extra power to In systems which heat the ink, but do not Can be highly effective if the Requires higher drive voltage for clearing Silverbrook, EP 0771 ink heater boil it under normal situations, nozzle heater is adjacent to the nozzle May require larger drive transistors 658 A2 and related clearing can be achieved by over- patent applications powering the heater and boiling ink at the nozzle. Rapid The actuator is fired in rapid succession. Does not require extra drive Effectiveness depends substantially upon May be used with: succession of In some configurations, this may cause circuits on the print head the configuration of the inkjet nozzle IJ01-IJ07, IJ09-IJ11 actuator pulses heat build-up at the nozzle which boils Can be readily controlled and IJ14, IJ16, IJ20, IJ22 the ink, clearing the nozzle. In other initiated by digital logic IJ23-IJ25, IJ27-IJ34 situations, it may cause sufficient IJ36-IJ45 vibrations to dislodge clogged nozzles. Extra power to Where an actuator is not normally driven A simple solution where Not suitable where there is a hard limit to May be used with: ink pushing to the limit of its motion, nozzle clearing applicable actuator movement IJ03, IJ09, IJ16, IJ20 actuator may be assisted by providing an IJ23, IJ24, IJ25, IJ27 enhanced drive signal to the actuator. IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ39, IJ40, IJ41, IJ42 IJ43, IJ44, IJ45 Acoustic An ultrasonic wave is applied to the ink A high nozzle clearing High implementation cost if system does IJ08, IJ13, IJ15, IJ17 resonance chamber. This wave is of an appropriate capability can be achieved not already include an acoustic actuator IJ18, IJ19, IJ21 amplitude and frequency to cause May be implemented at very sufficient force at the nozzle to clear low cost in systems which blockages. This is easiest to achieve if already include acoustic the ultrasonic wave is at a resonant actuators frequency of the ink cavity. Nozzle clearing A microfabricated plate is pushed against Can clear severely clogged Accurate mechanical alignment is required Silverbrook, EP 0771 plate the nozzles. The plate has a post for nozzles Moving parts are required 658 A2 and related every nozzle. The array of posts There is risk of damage to the nozzles patent applications Accurate fabrication is required Ink pressure The pressure of the ink is temporarily May be effective where other Requires pressure pump or other pressure May be used with all IJ pulse increased so that ink streams from all of methods cannot be used actuator series ink jets the nozzles. This may be used in Expensive conjunction with actuator energizing. Wasteful of ink Print head wiper A flexible ‘blade’ is wiped across the Effective for planar print head Difficult to use if print head surface is non- Many ink jet systems print head surface. The blade is usually surfaces planar or very fragile fabricated from a flexible polymer, e.g. Low cost Requires mechanical parts rubber or synthetic elastomer. Blade can wear out in high volume print systems Separate ink A separate heater is provided at the Can be effective where other Fabrication complexity Can be used with many boiling heater nozzle although the normal drop e-ection nozzle clearing methods cannot IJ series ink jets mechanism does not require it. The be used heaters do not require individual drive Can be implemented at no circuits, as many nozzles can be cleared additional cost in some inkjet simultaneously, and no imaging is configurations required. NOZZLE PLATE CONSTRUCTION Nozzle plate construction Electroformed A nozzle plate is separately fabricated Fabrication simplicity High temperatures and pressures are Hewlett Packard nickel from electroformed nickel, and bonded to required to bond nozzle plate Thermal Inkjet the print head chip. Minimum thickness constraints Differential thermal expansion Laser ablated or Individual nozzle holes are ablated by an No masks required Each hole must be individually formed Canon Bubblejet drilled polymer intense UV laser in a nozzle plate, which Can be quite fast Special equipment required 1988 Sercel et al., SPIE, is typically a polymer such as polyimide Some control over nozzle Slow where there are many thousands of Vol. 998 Excimer Beam or polysulphone profile is possible nozzles per print head Applications, pp. 76-83 Equipment required is May produce thin burrs at exit holes 1993 Watanabe et al., relatively low cost USP 5,208,604 Silicon micromachined A separate nozzle plate is micromachined High accuracy is attainable Two part construction K. Bean, IEEE from single crystal silicon, and bonded to High cost Transactions on the print head wafer. Requires precision alignment Electron Devices, Vol. Nozzles may be clogged by adhesive ED-25, No. 10, 1978, pp 1185-1195 Xerox 1990 Hawkins et al., USP 4,899,181 Glass capillaries Fine glass capillaries are drawn from No expensive equipment Very small nozzle sizes are difficult to form 1970 Zoltan USP glass tubing. This method has been used required Not suited for mass production 3,683,212 for making individual nozzles, but is Simple to make single nozzles difficult to use for bulk manufacturing of print heads with thousands of nozzles. Monolithic, The nozzle plate is deposited as a layer High accuracy (<1 μm) Requires sacrificial layer under the nozzle Silverbrook, EP 0771 surface micromachined using standard VLSI deposition Monolithic plate to form the nozzle chamber 658 A2 and related using techniques. Nozzles are etched in the Low cost Surface may be fragile to the touch patent applications VLSI nozzle plate using VLSI lithography and Existing processes can be used IJ01, IJ02, IJ04, IJ11 lithographic etching. IJ12, IJ17, IJ18, IJ20 processes IJ22, IJ24, IJ27, IJ28 IJ29, IJ30, IJ31, IJ32 IJ33, IJ34, IJ36, IJ37 IJ38, IJ39, IJ40, IJ41 IJ42, IJ43, IJ44 Monolithic, The nozzle plate is a buried etch stop in High accuracy (<1 μm) Requires long etch times IJ03, IJ05, IJ06, IJ07 etched through the wafer. Nozzle chambers are etched in Monolithic Requires a support wafer IJ08, IJ09, IJ10, IJ13 substrate the front of the wafer, and the wafer is Low cost IJ14, IJ15, IJ16, IJ19 thinned from the back side. Nozzles are No differential expansion IJ21, IJ23, IJ25, IJ26 then etched in the etch stop layer. No nozzle plate Various methods have been tried to No nozzles to become clogged Difficult to control drop position accurately Ricoh 1995 Sekiya et al eliminate the nozzles entirely, to prevent Crosstalk problems USP 5,412,413 nozzle clogging. These include thermal 1993 Hadimioglu et al bubble mechanisms and acoustic lens EUP 550,192 mechanisms 1993 Elrod et al EUP 572,220 Trough Each drop ejector has a trough through Reduced manufacturing Drop firing direction is sensitive to IJ35 which a paddle moves. There is no complexity wicking. nozzle plate. Monolithic Nozzle slit The elimination of nozzle holes and No nozzles to become clogged Difficult to control drop position accurately 1989 Saito et al USP instead of replacement by a slit encompassing many Crosstalk problems 4,799,068 individual actuator positions reduces nozzle nozzles clogging, but increases crosstalk due to ink surface waves DROP EJECTION DIRECTION Ejection direction Edge Ink flow is along the surface of the chip, Simple construction Nozzles limited to edge Canon Bubblejet 1979 (‘edge shooter’) and ink drops are ejected from the chip No silicon etching required High resolution is difficult Endo et al GB patent edge. Good heat sinking via substrate Fast color printing requires one print head 2,007,162 Mechanically strong per color Xerox heater-in-pit Ease of chip handing 1990 Hawkins et al USP 4,899,181 Tone-jet Surface Ink flow is along the surface of the chip, No bulk silicon etching Maximum ink flow is severely restricted Hewlett-Packard TIJ (‘roof shooter’) and ink drops are ejected from the chip required 1982 Vaught et al USP surface, normal to the plane of the chip. Silicon can make an effective 4,490,728 heat sink IJ02, IJ11, IJ12, IJ20 Mechanical strength IJ22 Through chip, Ink flow is through the chip, and ink High ink flow Requires bulk silicon etching Silverbrook, EP 0771 forward drops are ejected from the front surface Suitable for pagewidth print 658 A2 and related (‘up shooter’) of the chip. High nozzle packing density patent applications therefore low manufacturing IJ04, IJ17, IJ18, IJ24 cost IJ27-IJ45 Through chip, Ink flow is through the chip, and ink High ink flow Requires wafer thinning IJ01, IJ03, IJ05, IJ06 reverse drops are ejected from the rear surface of Suitable for pagewidth print Requires special handling during IJ07, IJ08, IJ09, IJ10 (‘down shooter’) the chip. High nozzle packing density manufacture IJ13, IJ14, IJ15, IJ16 therefore low manufacturing IJ19, IJ21, IJ23, IJ25 cost IJ26 Through Ink flow is through the actuator, which is Suitable for piezoelectric print Pagewidth print heads require several Epson Stylus actuator not fabricated as part of the same heads thousand connections to drive circuits Tektronix hot melt substrate as the drive transistors. Cannot be manufactured in standard CMOS piezoelectric ink jets fabs Complex assembly required INK TYPE Ink type Aqueous, dye Water based ink which typically Environmentally friendly Slow drying Most existing inkjets contains: water, dye, surfactant, No odor Corrosive All IJ series ink jets humectant, and biocide. Bleeds on paper Silverbrook, EP 0771 Modern ink dyes have high water- May strikethrough 658 A2 and related fastness, light fastness Cockles paper patent applications Aqueous, Water based ink which typically Environmentally friendly Slow drying IJ02, IJ04, IJ21, IJ26 pigment contains: water, pigment, surfactant, No odor Corrosive IJ27, IJ30 humectant, and biocide. Reduced bleed Pigment may clog nozzles Silverbrook, EP 0771 Pigments have an advantage in reduced Reduced wicking Pigment may clog actuator mechanisms 658 A2 and related bleed, wicking and strikethrough. Reduced strikethrough Cockles paper patent applications Piezoelectric ink-jets Thermal ink jets (with significant restrictions) Methyl Ethyl MEK is a highly volatile solvent used for Very fast drying Odorous All IJ series ink jets Ketone (MEK) industrial printing on difficult surfaces Prints on various substrates Flammable such as aluminum cans. such as metals and plastics Alcohol Alcohol based inks can be used where the Fast drying Slight odor All IJ series ink jets (ethanol, 2- printer must operate at temperatures Operates at sub-freezing Flammable butanol, and below the freezing point of water. An temperatures others) example of this is in-camera consumer Reduced paper cockle photographic printing. Low cost Phase change The ink is solid at room temperature, and No drying time-ink instantly High viscosity Tektronix hot melt (hot melt) is melted in the print head before jetting. freezes on the print medium Printed ink typically has a ‘waxy’ feel piezoelectric ink jets Hot melt inks are usually wax based, Almost any print medium can Printed pages may ‘block’ 1989 Nowak USP with a melting point around 80° C. After be used Ink temperature may be above the curie 4,820,346 jetting the ink freezes almost instantly No paper cockle occurs point of permanent magnets All IJ series ink jets upon contacting the print medium or a No wicking occurs Ink heaters consume power transfer roller. No bleed occurs Long warm-up time No strikethrough occurs Oil Oil based inks are extensively used in High solubility medium for High viscosity: this is a significant All IJ series ink jets offset printing. They have advantages in some dyes limitation for use in inkjets, which usually improved characteristics on paper Does not cockle paper require a low viscosity. Some short chain (especially no wicking or cockle). Oil Does not wick through paper and multi-branched oils have a sufficiently soluble dies and pigments are required. low viscosity. Slow drying Microemulsion A microemulsion is a stable, self forming emulsion Stops ink bleed Viscosity higher than water All IJ series ink jets of oil, water, and surfactant. High dye solubility Cost is slightly higher than water based ink The characteristic drop size is less than Water, oil, and amphiphilic High surfactant concentration required (around 5%) 100 nm, and is determined by the soluble dies can be used preferred curvature of the surfactant. Can stabilize pigment suspensions

Ink Jet Printing

A large number of new forms of ink jet printers have been developed to facilitate alternative ink jet technologies for the image processing and data distribution system. Various combinations of ink jet devices can be included in printer devices incorporated as part of the present invention. Australian Provisional Patent Applications relating to these ink jets which are specifically incorporated by cross reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. No./ Australian patent application Provisional Filing Ser. No. Number Date Title and Filing Date PO8066 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,227,652 1997 Apparatus (IJ01) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8072 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,213,588 1997 Apparatus (IJ02) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8040 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,213,589 1997 Apparatus (IJ03) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8071 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,231,163 1997 Apparatus (IJ04) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8047 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,247,795 1997 Apparatus (IJ05) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8035 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,394,581 1997 Apparatus (IJ06) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8044 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,244,691 1997 Apparatus (IJ07) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8063 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,257,704 1997 Apparatus (IJ08) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8057 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,416,168 1997 Apparatus (IJ09) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8056 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,220,694 1997 Apparatus (IJ10) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8069 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,257,705 1997 Apparatus (IJ11) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8049 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,247,794 1997 Apparatus (IJ12) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8036 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,234,610 1997 Apparatus (IJ13) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8048 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,247,793 1997 Apparatus (IJ14) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8070 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,264,306 1997 Apparatus (IJ15) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8067 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,241,342 1997 Apparatus (IJ16) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8001 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,247,792 1997 Apparatus (IJ17) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8038 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,264,307 1997 Apparatus (IJ18) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8033 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,254,220 1997 Apparatus (IJ19) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8002 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,234,611 1997 Apparatus (IJ20) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8068 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,302,528 1997 Apparatus (IJ21) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8062 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,283,582 1997 Apparatus (IJ22) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8034 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,239,821 1997 Apparatus (IJ23) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8039 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,338,547 1997 Apparatus (IJ24) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8041 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,247,796 1997 Apparatus (IJ25) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8004 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and 09/113,122 1997 Apparatus (IJ26) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8037 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,390,603 1997 Apparatus (IJ27) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8043 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,362,843 1997 Apparatus (IJ28) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8042 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,293,653 1997 Apparatus (IJ29) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8064 Jul. 15, Image Creation Method and  6,312,107 1997 Apparatus (IJ30) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9389 Sep. 23, Image Creation Method and  6,227,653 1997 Apparatus (IJ31) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9391 Sep. 23, Image Creation Method and  6,234,609 1997 Apparatus (IJ32) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0888 Dec. 12, Image Creation Method and  6,238,040 1997 Apparatus (IJ33) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0891 Dec. 12, Image Creation Method and  6,188,415 1997 Apparatus (IJ34) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0890 Dec. 12, Image Creation Method and  6,227,654 1997 Apparatus (IJ35) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0873 Dec. 12, Image Creation Method and  6,209,989 1997 Apparatus (IJ36) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0993 Dec. 12, Image Creation Method and  6,247,791 1997 Apparatus (IJ37) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0890 Dec. 12, Image Creation Method and  6,336,710 1997 Apparatus (IJ38) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP1398 Jan. 19, An Image Creation Method  6,217,153 1998 and Apparatus (IJ39) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP2592 Mar. 25, An Image Creation Method  6,416,167 1998 and Apparatus (IJ40) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP2593 Mar. 25, Image Creation Method and  6,243,113 1998 Apparatus (IJ41) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP3991 Jun. 9, Image Creation Method and  6,283,581 1998 Apparatus (IJ42) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP3987 Jun. 9, Image Creation Method and  6,247,790 1998 Apparatus (IJ43) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP3985 Jun. 9, Image Creation Method and  6,260,953 1998 Apparatus (IJ44) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP3983 Jun. 9, Image Creation Method and  6,267,469 1998 Apparatus (IJ45) (Jul. 10, 1998) Ink Jet Manufacturing

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor fabrication techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable manufacturing techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. No./ Australian patent application Provisional Ser. No. Number Filing Date Title and Filing Date PO7935 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,224,780 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM01) PO7936 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,235,212 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM02) PO7937 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,280,643 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM03) PO8061 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,284,147 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM04) PO8054 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,214,244 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM05) PO8065 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,071,750 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM06) PO8055 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,267,905 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM07) PO8053 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,251,298 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM08) PO8078 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,258,285 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM09) PO7933 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,225,138 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM10) PO7950 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,241,904 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM11) PO7949 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,299,786 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM12) PO8060 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of 09/113,124 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM13) PO8059 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,231,773 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM14) PO8073 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,190,931 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM15) PO8076 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,248,249 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM16) PO8075 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,290,862 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM17) PO8079 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,241,906 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM18) PO8050 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of 09/113,116 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM19) PO8052 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,241,905 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM20) PO7948 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,451,216 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM21) PO7951 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,231,772 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM22) PO8074 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,274,056 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM23) PO7941 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,290,861 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM24) PO8077 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,248,248 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM25) PO8058 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,306,671 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM26) PO8051 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,331,258 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM27) PO8045 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,110,754 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM28) PO7952 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,294,101 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM29) PO8046 Jul. 15, 1997 A Method of  6,416,679 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM30) PO8503 Aug. 11, 1997 A Method of  6,264,849 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM30a) PO9390 Sep. 23, 1997 A Method of  6,254,793 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM31) PO9392 Sep. 23, 1997 A Method of  6,235,211 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM32) PP0889 Dec. 12, 1997 A Method of  6,235,211 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM35) PP0887 Dec. 12, 1997 A Method of  6,264,850 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM36) PP0882 Dec. 12, 1997 A Method of  6,258,284 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM37) PP0874 Dec. 12, 1997 A Method of  6,258,284 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM38) PP1396 Jan. 19, 1998 A Method of  6,228,668 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM39) PP2591 Mar. 25, 1998 A Method of  6,180,427 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM41) PP3989 Jun. 9, 1998 A Method of  6,171,875 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM40) PP3990 Jun. 9, 1998 A Method of  6,267,904 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM42) PP3986 Jun. 9, 1998 A Method of  6,245,247 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM43) PP3984 Jun. 9, 1998 A Method of  6,245,247 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM44) PP3982 Jun. 9, 1998 A Method of  6,231,148 Manufacture of an (Jul. 10, 1998) Image Creation Apparatus (IJM45) Fluid Supply

Further, the present application may utilize an ink delivery system to the ink jet head. Delivery systems relating to the supply of ink to a series of ink jet nozzles are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications, the disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. No./ patent application Australian Ser. No. Provisional Filing and Filing Number Date Title Date PO8003 Jul. 15, Supply Method and Apparatus  6,350,023 1997 (F1) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8005 Jul. 15, Supply Method and Apparatus  6,318,849 1997 (F2) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9404 Sep. 23, A Device and Method (F3) 09/113,101 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) MEMS Technology

Further, the present application may utilize advanced semiconductor microelectromechanical techniques in the construction of large arrays of ink jet printers. Suitable microelectromechanical techniques are described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. No./patent Australian application Ser. Provisional Filing No. and Filing Number Date Title Date PO7943 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS01) 1997 PO8006 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS02)  6,087,638 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8007 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS03) 09/113,093 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8008 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS04)  6,340,222 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8010 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS05)  6,041,600 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8011 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS06)  6,299,300 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7947 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS07)  6,067,797 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7945 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS08) 09/113,081 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7944 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS09)  6,286,935 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7946 Jul. 15, A device (MEMS10)  6,044,646 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PO9393 Sep. 23, A Device and Method 09/113,065 1997 (MEMS11) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0875 Dec. 12, A Device (MEMS12) 09/113,078 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0894 Dec. 12, A Device and Method 09/113,075 1997 (MEMS13) (Jul. 10, 1998) IR Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a disposable camera system such as those described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. No./ patent application Australian Ser. No. Provisional Filing and Filing Number Date Title Date PP0895 Dec. 12, An Image Creation Method  6,231,148 1997 and Apparatus (IR01) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0870 Dec. 12, A Device and Method (IR02) 09/113,106 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0869 Dec. 12, A Device and Method (IR04)  6,293,658 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0887 Dec. 12, Image Creation Method and 09/113,104 1997 Apparatus (IR05) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0885 Dec. 12, An Image Production System  6,238,033 1997 (IR06) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0884 Dec. 12, Image Creation Method and  6,312,070 1997 Apparatus (IR10) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0886 Dec. 12, Image Creation Method and  6,238,111 1997 Apparatus (IR12) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0871 Dec. 12, A Device and Method (IR13) 09/113,086 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0876 Dec. 12, An Image Processing Method 09/113,094 1997 and Apparatus (IR14) (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0877 Dec. 12, A Device and Method (IR16)  6,378,970 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0878 Dec. 12, A Device and Method (IR17)  6,196,739 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0879 Dec. 12, A Device and Method (IR18) 09/112,774 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0883 Dec. 12, A Device and Method (IR19)  6,270,182 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0880 Dec. 12, A Device and Method (IR20)  6,152,619 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) PP0881 Dec. 12, A Device and Method (IR21) 09/113,092 1997 (Jul. 10, 1998) DotCard Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of a data distribution system such as that described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. No./patent Australian application Provisional Ser. No. and Number Filing Date Title Filing Date PP2370 Mar. 16, Data Processing 09/112,781 1998 Method and (Jul. 10, 1998) Apparatus (Dot01) PP2371 Mar. 16, Data Processing 09/113,052 1998 Method and (Jul. 10, 1998 Apparatus (Dot02) Artcam Technologies

Further, the present application may include the utilization of camera and data processing techniques such as an Artcam type device as described in the following Australian provisional patent specifications incorporated here by cross-reference. The serial numbers of respective corresponding US patent applications are also provided for the sake of convenience.

U.S. Pat. No./ Australian patent application Provisional Ser. No. Number Filing Date Title and Filing Date PO7991 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/113,060 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART01) PO7988 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing  6,476,863 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART02) PO7993 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/113,073 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART03) PO9395 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing  6,322,181 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART04) PO8017 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,747 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART06) PO8014 Jul. 15, 1997 Media Device  6,227,648 (ART07) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8025 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,750 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART08) PO8032 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,746 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART09) PO7999 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,743 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART10) PO7998 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,742 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART11) PO8031 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,741 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART12) PO8030 Jul. 15, 1997 Media Device  6,196,541 (ART13) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7997 Jul. 15, 1997 Media Device  6,195,150 (ART15) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7979 Jul. 15, 1997 Media Device  6,362,868 (ART16) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO8015 Jul. 15, 1997 Media Device 09/112,738 (ART17) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7978 Jul. 15, 1997 Media Device 09/113,067 (ART18) (Jul. 10, 1998) PO7982 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing  6,431,669 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998 (ART19) PO7989 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing  6,362,869 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998 (ART20) PO8019 Jul. 15, 1997 Media Processing  6,472,052 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998 (ART21) PO7980 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing  6,356,715 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART22) PO8018 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,777 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART24) PO7938 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/113,224 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART25) PO8016 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing  6,366,693 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART26) PO8024 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing  6,329,990 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART27) PO7940 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing 09/113,072 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART28) PO7939 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing 09/112,785 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART29) PO8501 Aug. 11, 1997 Image Processing  6,137,500 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART30) PO8500 Aug. 11, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,796 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART31) PO7987 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing 09/113,071 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART32) PO8022 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing  6,398,328 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998 (ART33) PO8497 Aug. 11, 1997 Image Processing 09/113,090 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART34) PO8020 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing  6,431,704 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998 (ART38) PO8023 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing 09/113,222 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART39) PO8504 Aug. 11, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,786 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART42) PO8000 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing  6,415,054 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART43) PO7977 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing 09/112,782 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART44) PO7934 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing 09/113,056 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART45) PO7990 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing 09/113,059 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART46) PO8499 Aug. 11, 1997 Image Processing  6,486,886 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART47) PO8502 Aug. 11, 1997 Image Processing  6,381,361 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART48) PO7981 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing  6,317,192 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998 (ART50) PO7986 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing 09/113,057 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART51) PO7983 Jul. 15, 1997 Data Processing 09/113,054 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART52) PO8026 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,752 Method and Apparatus (Jul 10, 1998) (ART53) PO8027 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,759 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART54) PO8028 Jul. 15, 1997 Image Processing 09/112,757 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART56) PO9394 Sep. 23, 1997 Image Processing  6,357,135 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998 (ART57) PO9396 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing 09/113,107 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART58) PO9397 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing  6,271,931 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART59) PO9398 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing  6,353,772 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART60) PO9399 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing  6,106,147 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART61) PO9400 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing 09/112,790 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART62) PO9401 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing  6,304,291 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART63) PO9402 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing 09/112,788 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART64) PO9403 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing  6,305,770 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART65) PO9405 Sep. 23, 1997 Data Processing  6,289,262 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART66) PP0959 Dec. 16, 1997 A Data Processing  6,315,200 Method and Apparatus (Jul. 10, 1998) (ART68) PP1397 Jan. 19, 1998 A Media Device  6,217,165 (ART69) (Jul. 10, 1998) 

1. A method of processing a digital image comprising: using a digital camera having a sensing device and autofocus unit, capturing an image of a scene to produce the digital image by sensing the image of the scene with the sensing device at the focus settings of the autofocus unit; storing said digital image and said focusing settings of the autofocus unit within a memory of the digital camera; detecting structures within the digital image by processing the digital image with a processor of the digital camera utilising said focusing settings as an indicator of positions of said structures; applying image effects to the detected structures with said processor to produce a manipulated image; and printing out the manipulated image using a printer inbuilt to the digital camera.
 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the digital image is captured utilising a zooming technique; and zooming settings can be used in a heuristic manner so as to process portions of said digital image.
 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said processing comprises utilising auto focus information to assist in the location of objects within the digital image.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said focusing settings are derived from a CCD captured digital image. 